What Jonathan Tandy Taught Me

If you were paying close attention three weeks ago, you’ll remember that we didn’t sing the last song in the Order of Worship.  One of you who noticed was Jonathan Tandy.  Jonathan came up to me after church and said, “Do you know why we didn’t sing the last song?” I asked him what the song was and if it was one of his favorites. He said, “Shout Hallelujah!” And that “yes” it was one of his favorites. I said, “That’s one of my favorites too!”  Jonathan replied, “Well, we should have sung that!”

Then I started to explain, “Did you see when Mr. Glenn whispered in my ear?  He was telling me that there wouldn’t be a final song and that I could dismiss everyone after the announcements.”  But I already knew where this line of questioning was going. Jonathan looked a little perplexed and asked a gentle, “Well, why?”

Immediately I knew the adults were in the wrong and we were getting called out, so I was quick to throw Dallmann under the bus (Sorry Glenn!).  I said, “Well I guess we were running a little late, and Mr. Glenn decided to cut the last song to save time.”  As I was saying this the stupidity of my words and the wisdom of Jonathan’s words became amazingly clear.  So I said, “You know, we should have sang that song and I should have just called you up to sing it with me.” He just shrugged, smiled, and said, “I mean a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.”
How right you are, Jonathan!  A few more minutes shouting “Hallelujah” to the King of Kings certainly wouldn’t hurt. So, here’s what I learned from Jonathan:

1. God is worthy of our praise every second of every day. He could demand it from heaven with thunder bolts and lightening that would shake us to our very core.  Instead, in His lovingkindness, His Spirit speaks gently, but powerfully, through a child to remind me that staying a few more minutes to shout “Hallelujah” to the King of Kings sure wouldn’t hurt; just the opposite!

2. Then I wondered how often do we want the church service to be concise, efficient, and clean?  Do we complain that the services are just a little too long, or maybe we’re just passing along suggestions on how the services could be a better for us if something would be tweaked? What I really want to ask is, “Is this what having a heart for worship is really about?” I don’t think so. All of us need to have a heart that is more like Jonathan’s when it comes to worshiping God, which includes being less concerned about the clock.

May we become a lot more like children (as Jesus said) and be even more excited to sing joyous songs to praise His name! 
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~Dan Goodwin